this blog continues the previous Part 34,
https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2019/01/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in.html
https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2019/01/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in.html
Saturday, June 30, 2018
“You
have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your
intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is
yourself.”
Still walking through the countryside I've notice a big truck standing at the right sight of the road loading potatoes. A conveyor system forwarded the potatoes on the truck with the earth falling off into containers or on the floor. Knowing that French Fries or 'frites', as they are called in Belgium, are a basic food staple in this country, seeing this had no small meaning. As there is a steady demand for potatoes this loading is a significant sight for tourist like me. While I stopped to watch the procedure and to take a picture the truck driver and the worker waved to a me as a friendly gesture to the interested tourist hauling his sports bag along...
(to be continued@
https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2019/01/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in_22.html
Alan Alda (Jan. 28, 1936) American actor, director,
screenwriter, comedian and author
Walking through the fields between Perbais and Ernage somehow the time blurred away until I finally discovered first roofs on the road far a head. After a slight left turn I faced the first buildings after a very quiet time passing the fields.
 |
Take me Home,
Country Roads...
|
From the right side of the road a car drove out from the pathway, the first reminder that I've returned to civilization. Sill walking I discovered some red dots on and beside the road with cherry stones squashed by some vehicles. Looking up a tree I've discovered indeed dark cherries grown on a wild tree which no one seemed to care about...I picked up a view from a lower branch and enjoyed the gift of a sweet morning snack.
Before a document from 1293 mentions today's name 'Ernage' former Latin texts provided names Asnatgia or Asntatagia (946), Asnatica (around 1040 and in 1136) Esnagia or Estnagia (1213). The Romanesque form Esnage appeared between 1194 and 1229. In its historical topography of Walloon Brabant published in Amsterdam in 1692, Antwerp Jacques le Roy spells this area Ernaige and Erfnage.
Before a document from 1293 mentions today's name 'Ernage' former Latin texts provided names Asnatgia or Asntatagia (946), Asnatica (around 1040 and in 1136) Esnagia or Estnagia (1213). The Romanesque form Esnage appeared between 1194 and 1229. In its historical topography of Walloon Brabant published in Amsterdam in 1692, Antwerp Jacques le Roy spells this area Ernaige and Erfnage.
As I walked parallel to the main road it was not difficult to return through the houses and found the way back to the Chaussée de Wavre, as this part of the A4 is named in this area. Coming to the intersection there were some cows just opposite of the road, an opportunity for taking photos which I would not like to miss.
 |
Young Cows
grazing beside the Road
|
I turned right and followed the main road and enjoyed and easy flat walk until I passed the Snack Factory (www.snack-factory.be), an American Style grill and diner directly beside the road. The sun was still on the rise and the restaurant closed. But the interesting light let me take a photo of the American styled neon sign behind a swinging Elvis.
 |
| Loading Potatoes in Belgium |
The next larger city, Gembloux. was not far away and a relative leisurely
walk. The city has only around 22.000
inhabitants but is very well known for its Agricultural University, the
Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech.
As I walked along the main road I've noticed a lot of police motorcycles and cars with policeman securing the road. I suppose some important person/s wanted to visit the town or the university but I a not much sure about that.
As I walked along the main road I've noticed a lot of police motorcycles and cars with policeman securing the road. I suppose some important person/s wanted to visit the town or the university but I a not much sure about that.
I
passed some older and newer buildings and followed the Rue Sigebert into the
city center. As along the whole way there were many road signs and as the Belgians are good
educated people the only problems were the cobbles which were not only on the
roads but also on the sidewalks.
The road name changed into the Grand'Rue and I passed a Tourist Office but did not pay much attention to it. As the road went a little downhill I've discovered the main entrance of the before mentioned Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech University on the right side. There is a gate and through this gate I took the picture below. The University is housed in the historic Abbey of Gembloux which was founded about 945 by Saint Guibert of Wibert and dedicated to Saint Peter and the martyr Saint Exuperius (died around 410).
The road name changed into the Grand'Rue and I passed a Tourist Office but did not pay much attention to it. As the road went a little downhill I've discovered the main entrance of the before mentioned Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech University on the right side. There is a gate and through this gate I took the picture below. The University is housed in the historic Abbey of Gembloux which was founded about 945 by Saint Guibert of Wibert and dedicated to Saint Peter and the martyr Saint Exuperius (died around 410).
After the French Revolution (1789-1799) the monks were expelled and
the abbey sold. In July 1860, the Agronomic School of Thourout was
transferred to Gembloux; in 2009 it was merged with the University of Liege and
renamed into Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech (wikipedia).
 |
Main Building
of the Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech housed in the former Abbey of Gembloux
|
As a son of uneducated parents, a violent alcoholic father and an even
more violent Nazi mother, I longed my whole life for knowledge and still admire
every person who could and can have a university education which was never
possible for myself.
My tyrannical mother thought of herself to be a big planner. As in Germany the education is decided after the fourth grade her plan stood in my to open the path to a higher education. She wanted to leave the family as soon as possible after the children became independent and have their own income. Learning at the secondary school (German: Gymnasium) is a requirement to study at a university in Germany would take too many 'additional years' she had to spend with this family. So she decided against her children to pursue a higher education for the sake of a fast income.
After my school graduation, I got an apprenticeship as a "Wholesale Businessman" at a local Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche Dealer. This education included one part vocational school and one part working to gain experiences and a small salary. My mother was, of course, very happy because I was able to pay 1/3rd of salary as 'living expenses' directly to her.
I remember the first day at the vocational school when we had to write a report to introduce ourselves and why we've decided to pursue this career as homework. I've written my assignment and gave it to the teacher. One week later he returned my homework and told me "I've read your paper and wonder what are you doing here? You should study at a university, not learn here at the vocational school!" "My mother wanted me to come here and earn some money!" was my sad reply. She shook his head and left...
My tyrannical mother thought of herself to be a big planner. As in Germany the education is decided after the fourth grade her plan stood in my to open the path to a higher education. She wanted to leave the family as soon as possible after the children became independent and have their own income. Learning at the secondary school (German: Gymnasium) is a requirement to study at a university in Germany would take too many 'additional years' she had to spend with this family. So she decided against her children to pursue a higher education for the sake of a fast income.
After my school graduation, I got an apprenticeship as a "Wholesale Businessman" at a local Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche Dealer. This education included one part vocational school and one part working to gain experiences and a small salary. My mother was, of course, very happy because I was able to pay 1/3rd of salary as 'living expenses' directly to her.
I remember the first day at the vocational school when we had to write a report to introduce ourselves and why we've decided to pursue this career as homework. I've written my assignment and gave it to the teacher. One week later he returned my homework and told me "I've read your paper and wonder what are you doing here? You should study at a university, not learn here at the vocational school!" "My mother wanted me to come here and earn some money!" was my sad reply. She shook his head and left...
This is one of the many reasons why I like to
spend some time to catch the atmosphere and make photos from universities whenever I pass
them...
(to be continued@
https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2019/01/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in_22.html
Disclaimer: I traveled Belgium by myself, I am not sponsored by anyone. Interested subscribers and/or followers in traveling an in this small but beautiful country are more than welcome! If not convenient to subscribe on Blogger.com, I've started my own homepage @ https://gerhardwanninger.wixsite.com/travel
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